The budget deficit will reach 8.5 percent of GDP this year, missing a 7.6 percent target. It will be brought down to 6.8 percent of GDP next year but will still miss the bailout target of 6.5 percent of GDP

A new study challenges claims from the administration of President Barack Obama that Colombia is making important strides in bringing to justice killers of labor activists and so deserves...[Superpower] congressional approval of a long-stalled free trade pact.

Slovakia is one of the three remaining euro members which need to approve a wider mandate for the 440 billion euro ($590 billion) EFSF so it can make emergency loans, rescue banks and help governments whose bonds come under market attack.

Pressure on Slovaks rose on Friday when Slovakia's European Commissioner, Maros Sefcovic, rapped Radicova's government for delaying the latest efforts to resolve a crisis economists fear could trigger a new global downturn.